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The home of PinkoddyMon, 17 Dec 2018 18:55:11 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.944010968What’s that Smell?http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/17/whats-that-smell/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/17/whats-that-smell/#commentsMon, 17 Dec 2018 18:53:30 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25637What’s that Smell? The Party Game that Stinks - but does it? When you think about something that stinks it usually means it is no good, but in this case it means literally stinks, but is actually a pretty decent game.

About What’s that Smell?

This hilarious fragrant-guessing party game from WowWee is designed for between 2-6 players ages 14 and over. I would disagree and say that those of all ages can play and actually as many people as you like as you can take it in turns to have a sniff.
The idea of the game is to identify the smell on the scratch and sniff cards, which includes its category type and what memories you have it. With over 50 smells from nice to downright nasty, ranging from roses to rotting garbage...and worse. The winner (aka "Nose-it-All") gets to pick a player of their choice to suffer the Whiff of Shame: three big whiffs of one of the four outrageously pungent Stank Cards: Extra Old Toe Cheese, Diaper Blowout, Hot Chunky Vomit and Smothered in B.O.!For added fun, players can download the free iOS/Android What's That Smell? companion app to track the number of players and sniffing time, earn extra bonus points by comparing guesses with other people who have played the game and record their priceless ‘Whiff Of Shame’ reactions. The app also provides Stank Card filters and a "don't-miss-a-revolting-second" slow-mo effect to help capture every second of these memorable moments.

Thoughts on What’s that Smell?

As soon as you lift the lid on the game the smell just hits you! There is no denying this is indeed a very smelly game and not for the faint-hearted. It was great fun and really pleasurable to correctly identify the smells and also really makes you realise how important smell is. We smelt 6 things at a time and it was fascinating how quickly all the smells merged into one (there are instructions on how to reset your nose as it were). All the scents we came across were familiar to us, so shouldn’t be hard to guess. Some of them I really couldn’t say that I would even recognise when I knew what they were (although my son said he could) and others were just so obvious. We loved this game and it was a good way of getting the boys writing down their thoughts. Some fragrances gave off really happy memories too.

Contents of What’s that Smell?

What's That Smell? Includes:

48 Mystery Whiff Cards

4 Stank Cards and scent-barrier bags

6 cardholders

A sheet of Whiff Strips (to scratch the smell)

Scorepad

Instructions

THE NEW YEAR MEANS A LOT MORE PEOPLE STAY IN RATHER THAN GO OUT - AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO HAVE FUN AT HOME THAN WITH THIS FUN GAME.

TO WIN A COPY OF WHAT'S THAT SMELL ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IN 10 WORDS OR MORE:

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST AND WORST SMELLS TO IDENTIFY?

Enter using the Rafflecopter below. UK Only. Ends 0:00 AM 31/12/2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway
RRP £24.99
@whatsthatsmellI received a free copy of What's that Smell? for review purposes. Opinions are honest and my own.http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/whats-that-smell-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/whats-that-smell-300x260.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/whats-that-smell.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/17/whats-that-smell/feed/2225637Decluttering Toys Ultimate Guidehttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/14/decluttering-toys-ultimate-guide/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/14/decluttering-toys-ultimate-guide/#respondFri, 14 Dec 2018 09:38:32 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25620This is an endorsed partnered post.Has it been a while since you last saw the living room floor for toys? It’s remarkable how one day you can tidy the whole house and the next day it can look like a tornado travelled straight through it overnight.
Sometimes you could be tricked into thinking that toys breed more toys. In reality, though, most of the toys that your kid has are either bought by you or by close family and friends.
One kid can only play with so many toys at once. Sometimes, especially for new families, the toy shopping escalates out of proportions because the new parents and grandparents get excited. Of course, it’s wonderful that the entire family is excited — but sometimes enough toys, are enough toys.
If you’re struggling with a toy collection that’s exponentially expanding then hang on as we dive into how you can effectively declutter and sort the great from the average toys.

Welcome to the ultimate guide to Decluttering Toys!

The first step when trying to declutter is to put a ban on toy shopping! Tell your kids’ grandparents and your good friends that there’s simply no more space for toys in your home and you’ve put a ban on bringing in more.
Once you’ve put a stopper on incoming new toys and things, it’s time to go through what’s already in the house.
To make things easy for you, here are 4 simple steps to follow:

1 — Categorise all the toys

There’s no point emptying all boxes on the floor and try and tackle all of it in an afternoon! When you start your decluttering, keep in mind that your kids' attention span is very very limited.
For the experience to be really successful and for them to understand where their toys have gone you need your kid to take an active role in the decluttering process.
If you can, try and categorise the toys before you get started. Go through dolls one day, toy cars the next and bath toys on the third.
By breaking the work and separation into small manageable chunks you can easily get a lot done without having a series of tantrums because the little ones are getting tired and wanting to keep all 459 teddies.
Something that will keep all kids and adults involved and happy for longer is snacks. Throw some popcorn, some fruit and some good music into the mix and you’re flying!

2 — Sort through the toys cleverly

When you’re sorting through toys it’s a handy idea to have three piles or boxes lined up.

One for toys that your kid uses almost daily

One for toys that are used regularly

And a final box for toys that have not been used for a long time

Now don’t throw anything away just yet. Unless of course there are things that are of no value to your kid and can’t be regifted.
Keep the most used box out and put the other two into storage. Whether that’s self-storage or the garage, the loft, or a shed doesn’t really matter as long as you can reach it somewhat easily should the child/ren want their toys back.
If you keep the box of toys that are used only sometimes in the house and only take things out of there when your kid asks for them, you’ll slowly be able to move the ‘sometimes used toys’ in to the never used box and you can slowly filter away things and toys your kid doesn't need.

3 — Filter out keepsakes

When sorting through stuff you’ll likely come across a few things that you feel emotionally attached to. A doll that you used to have as a kid, a present from a passed away relative, a homemade action figure outfit, the first teddy and so on.
Whilst these items might not mean an awful lot to your 5-year-old at the time it might mean a lot to them later on so you better save a few memorable items.
Keep a small box of keepsakes and old favourites for when your kids have kids on their own one day.

4 — Purge often

For your hard work to pay off and keep paying off you need to purge often and only allow a minimal amount of new toys into the home.
No one needs 17 boxes filled with toys, not to mention all the toys that are too big to fit into the boxes in the first place!
Whenever Christmas and birthdays come around, be a little extra thorough to really clean out the home!
Images from UnSplash.comhttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/rawpixel-633848-unsplash-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/rawpixel-633848-unsplash-300x200.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/rawpixel-633848-unsplash.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/14/decluttering-toys-ultimate-guide/feed/025620Playing Together this Christmashttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/12/playing-together-this-christmas/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/12/playing-together-this-christmas/#commentsWed, 12 Dec 2018 18:31:55 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25616Christmas is a time for being together, a time for family, a time to show each other appreciation: Quality not quantity. We know this but somehow we tend to get sucked up into the commercialism of it all. This year we vowed to make it more about family time but wasn’t sure how to do that when we knew that all our boys would want to do really is play computer games. And then Playstation sent us the answer: Spend time playing together.
At Playstation, they believe that gaming together is one of the most fun and meaningful ways of gaining a shared experience. They can mean as a whole family (co-operatively and competitively), with friends or even just as a couple. They have suggestions on how to achieve this which I will tell you about below, plus there’s even more by following their social media channels.

In it Together

Playing as a team is a great way to get groups of friends and/or family together. Make a whole occasion out of playing by providing some snacks and drinks as you all snuggle up together.

Team Games you can play co-operatively on your PS4:

Overcooked 2

Developed by Ghost Town Games and Published by Team 17, the sequel to Overcooked teams of up to 4 players prepare and cook orders in absurd restaurants. Requires co-operative play to ensure that food is chopped, cooked, combined on plates and served. This can involve complications such as moving floors and other obstacles which interfere with the cooking process.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Developed by Steel Crate Games, you need to disarm bombs with the help of other players who read a manual of instructions. This can be played with or without the use of a VR (virtual reality) headset.

LEGO DC Supervillains

Developed by Traveller’s Tales and released by Warner Bros. Interactive, this LEGO themed action-adventure game serves as a spin-off to the LEGO Batman trilogy. However, this game just focuses on the villains. It can be played as a single or multiplayer game - with split screens.[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BqlFfhDFCas/[/embed]

Sofa Standoffs

Or maybe you fancy a bit of competition! Why not add an extra dimension to the fun by using a scoreboard. Get in some medals and prizes for the winners; provide some stress relievers for when it gets tense; and why not spend some time together in the kitchen making cookies to ensure that everyone keeps their energy levels up (or make some afterwards to have some much needed bonding time).

Competitive Games you can play on your PS4:

FIFA19

Developed by EA Vancouver as part of the Electronic Arts’ FIFA Series, a football stimulation video game with Cristiano Ronaldo as the cover athletic of the regular edition.

WWE19

Developed in collaboration between Yuke’s and Visual Concepts, and published by 2K Sports, is a professional wrestling game.

Knowledge is Power: Decades

Utilising PlayLink up to 6 players can go head to head with thousands of unique questions, a variety of themed environments and eight unique characters to pick from.

All Back to Mine

Sometimes you just want to have some fun, especially when you have a whole range of ages and abilities playing. These are the real Christmas Day games that a whole bunch of people can join in with. Why not make a party out of it with balloons and chocolate coins.

Party Games you can play on your PS4:

Chimparty

Developed by NapNok Games it is one of PlayLink’s first forays into the family market. Up to four players can compete in a blitz of 18 wild party games across 90 levels.

Sonic Mania Plus

An action packed adventure with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Go head to-head with up to four players in Competition Mode, or play with a friend in Co-Op Mode.

Pass & Play

Even single player games can be utilised to socialise by taking things in turn. Either use quick-fire games, ones when you are likely to die quickly - why not get a fidget spinner for the person waiting! Or use them as an alternative to a movie night - with drinks and nibbles.

Turn-Taking Games you can play on your PS4:

Detroit: Become Human

Quantic Dream and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is an adventure game revolving around 3 androids each with a different story/purpose and who may survive or perish depending on the dialogue choices that shape the story.

Life is Strange

Developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix, the game's plot focuses on Max Caulfield, an 18-year-old photography student who discovers that she has the ability to rewind timeat any moment, leading her every choice to enact the butterfly effect.

Crash Bandicoot

The Crash Bandicoot series was created by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin during their tenure at Naughty Dog for Universal Interactive Studios and Sony Computer Entertainment; and was originally exclusive to the PlayStation family of video game consoles.Set on the fictitious Wumpa Islands, where humans and anthropomorphic animals: Such as Bandicoot named Crash, whose quiet life is often interrupted by the games' main antagonist Doctor Neo Cortex - who created Crash and wants him dead. In most games, Crash must defeat Cortex and foil his plans for world domination.

As well as spending quality time together, playing together helps give a better insight into how games work and what the children are doing. It can make you appreciate why they may need a warning before just switching something off mid-game - or why a certain game makes them lose their rag a little (and finding ways to help cope with that). We are really looking forward to playing together as a Playstation family this Christmas.
I was sent a `Something for the Weekend’ Parcel from Playstation in order to experience playing together as a family. All opinions are honest and my own.http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Playstation-Frantics-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Playstation-Frantics-300x225.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Playstation-Frantics.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/12/playing-together-this-christmas/feed/125616Driving Lessons with Young Driver™http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/11/driving-lessons-with-young-driver/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/11/driving-lessons-with-young-driver/#respondTue, 11 Dec 2018 10:51:11 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25603When your child reaches seventeen if they are interested in driving chances are they will want a licence as quickly as they can and be out on the road, leaving parents worrying about just how safe they are. Driving is a life skill, getting behind the wheel means that your actions can affect you and others around you, so it is really important to get right. Young Driver™ offer a training programme which allows children to drive and learn about road safety earlier, reducing the number of accidents on the roads.

Driving Lessons with Young Driver™

Young Driver™ offer lessons from the ages of 5-17 years old - which means that children can notch up years of safe driving experience by learning how to control a car safely - without the rush to get a licence to get out on to the road. Plus the sooner they begin the more likely they will respect and listen to the instructor, without thinking that they know it all.
Young Driver™ lessons are run from a variety of locations, and apparently you can get a really different experience depending on which one you choose to go to. This may be they have a better set-up for roundabouts or ramps for example - or maybe you would like to take advantage of one of the skills day events (for those who have had 3 or more lessons) which cover advance skills such as motorway driving.

Fireflys with Young Driver™

Depending on the age of the child will determine on which type of driving experience they can opt for. Five to ten year olds can drive a specially created range of two-seater cars called the Firefly. These feature independent suspension, disc brakes, twin electric motors and rack and pinion steering, and an adjustable driver’s seat – making them drive and handle just like real cars on the road! The other seat can be occupied by their parents or even a friend! With a top speed of 10 mph and a remote control to switch them off in an emergency. Lessons last 20 minutes which includes a 5 minute briefing/demonstration followed by 15 minutes driving on one of their realistic road systems.

YOUNG DRIVER™ Training Programme

For those over 10 years old there is the YOUNG DRIVER™ training programme which mirrors what would be learnt when driving on the road. The only difference is the children will learn to drive in a safe environment on a specially constructed road course. These are available for 30 or 60 minutes each. I think that having just a thirty minute lesson available is especially good for those first lessons to really take things in - even more so for the younger children.

The First Lesson with Young Driver™

First lessons with Young Driver™ cover starting and stopping the car, moving away, changing gears and steering. On the first lesson the children are given a booklet which explains all about the training programme and is their driving diary. Each child is treated as an individual and the lessons are tailored for them, but generally they will not receive the same instructor for reasons of child protection. I am not sure if the first instructor gelled better with our teen or that the second lesson wasn’t quite what he expected but he definitely had a preference, so it is good to know that you can request the same person.
The diary is utilised to see what they have previously learned and what they need to concentrate on next. Unlike my first driving lessons the instructors get the children moving on their first lesson (helping with the gears/clutch). They explain what they will focus on before the lesson has begun and recap previous lessons- whether that is stopping safely, checking the road, steering etc. At the end of the lesson the booklet is signed off so that the next instructor knows what they have and haven’t covered and mastered.
There’s also the option to buy a video so you can see exactly what was happening during the lesson. This is a great idea if you are leaving gaps between lessons as a great recap/reminder of what they have previously done.

My thoughts on Young Driver™ Lessons

I have to admit that I had always thought that the older someone started driving the better as it gives them a chance to mature before having the responsibility of lives in their hands. I thought that having driving lessons too young would just mean an increased risk in joy riding because these teens would know how to drive and not be able to legally get a licence. Well since our middle two sons have had lessons with Young Driver™ I have completely changed my perspective. Actually now I can see that they learn properly without the need for being in a hurry. That they have time to properly take things in and practice them.
I wouldn’t have thought twice about my children being too young to swim for example (the youngest two had lessons from 2 years and 9 months which was the youngest age they could go into the pool without a parent). Equally as dangerous (to themselves) if it wasn’t taught right. Now not only have the boys begun to see the importance of why driving a certain way is important but they’ve even pulled me up on a few things (who knew I didn’t feed the wheel through my hands when steering).

Why have More than One Young Driver™ Lesson

I can see the appeal of having one Driver™ Lesson as a gift but really to benefit fully form the training programme more lessons will be required - as it isn’t about fun (which it is) but more about how to control a car and being safe on the road. A number of lessons will not only let the children progress with this but also give them the opportunity to drive in different driving conditions - is it wet/dry, sunny or raining, for example, as well as the opportunity to drive on different courses. The option of a bigger car as well as the regular one will also make a difference on their experience.

Things learned on first Young Driver™ Lessons

Our boys did two and half 30 minute lessons each they covered (in no particular order):

Making sure the car is safe - how to adjust mirrors, seats, steering wheel etc for their height and other pre-drive safety checks

How to start a car

Checking mirrors and position

Blind spots

Pulling away including how the clutch works and finding the bite point

Stopping without stalling,

Spatial awareness of the size of the car

Changing gear

Steering and turning

Obstacles, junctions and roundabouts

Reversing

and driving with other traffic.

Our Boys Young Driver™ Lessons

Both boys (ages 10 who turned 11) and 15 years old both enjoyed their lessons. It was good to give them a real understanding of what driving a car is like. We were told that they would both develop differently but it was really interesting to see that the older of the two really picked up on the safety aspect quicker (more likely to be checking his mirrors as opposed to giving us a wave). They discovered that we are not perfect when driving and it isn’t like a computer game or go-kart! As they had the opportunity to drive two different types of car they also experienced how different that is for different features. For example the teen loved the turbo but was not so keen on an electronic handbrake.

Conclusions on Young Driver™ Lessons

Even after the lessons the boys have thought more about safety on the road and about how cars work, asking questions as I am driving along. Young Driver™ Lessons definitely are good to ensure that they will be the best drivers they can be when the time comes. I would definitely recommend Young Driver™ Lessons and will definitely be looking into more in the future for our children. It seems as if many children had had them as a gift - with some having extra lessons annually as they age.
I won driving lessons with Young Driver™ and had one free review lesson. All opinions are honest and my own.http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/teen-young-driver-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/teen-young-driver-300x199.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/teen-young-driver.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/11/driving-lessons-with-young-driver/feed/025603Dick Whittington Roses Theatrehttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/05/dick-whittington-roses-theatre/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/05/dick-whittington-roses-theatre/#respondWed, 05 Dec 2018 08:28:03 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25590Once again we returned for the annual tradition of the Christmas Panto at The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury, and this year it is the turn of Dick Whittington. The Roses Theatre brings this traditional story to life with music, mayhem and exhilarating fun as Dick has adventures whilst making new friendships and dastardly foes.

Dick Whittington at The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury Cast

Written and directed by Ben Crocker (for his seventh consecutive year of Panto at The Roses Theatre) the tale of how Dick Whittington (Amy Bridges) goes off to London to seek his fortune is brought to life in true Panto fashion. The marvellous Ben Eagle (who was Queen Dorothy in The Roses’ Sleeping Beauty last year and Friar Tuck in 2016's Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood) returns as our hilarious Panto Dame as Sarah The Cook. His outstanding performances always make me laugh so much but my highlight from this year's Panto has to be when he came into the audience and had their sweets from them! Also joined by Michael Watson-Gray as Idle Jack, who also gave a comical performance in Sleeping Beauty and again puts on a side-splitting performance in the sidekick role Idle Jack. Of course the pair do one of my favourite tradition scenes of the pies in the kitchen - which end up all over their faces!
I love it when the penny drops that one actor is playing several parts and this year it is Simon Spencer-Hyde who is back to perform the roles of Alderman Fitzwarren / Captain Horatio / The Emperor or Morocco. It is actually rather funny the way the rest of the cast make comments about each character being just off stage where they can see them, to give the costume changes time to occur.
The remaining cast include: Laura Barnard as Alice Fitzwarren / Fairy Bowbells - who I felt was really good in how she really changed her accent to sound like indeed two completely different characters (disappointed that she wore the same shoes mind); Derek Frood as King Rat (who has recently appeared in BBC’s Poldark) - a villain with a real air of Shakespeare in his performance and it is not surprising as his recent theatre credits including Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night and Priscilla Osegie as Tommy the Cat - her debut panto and what a fantastic job she did - my favourite part being when she discovered she had a voice, and how beautiful it is too - just disappointed I didn't hear it more (she could only miaow the rest of it).
There has been a change to the usual Chorus this year, with instead of auditions being held the chorus has been made up of two teams from local dance schools (one from Amy Flynn School of Dance and the other from Studio B Performing Arts Centre). It is clear what an amazing opportunity the chorus have had once again this year - with them been fully involved in the production from start to finish. It was fantastic to see that the choreography (by last year's villain Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty Lucy Jane Adcock) had been designed so that the children were much more seen. There were also a lot more talking parts - including a reserve fairy (for when Alice also needed to be on stage).

Thoughts on Dick Whittington Roses Theatre

Dick Whittington was everything we have come to expect from a Panto at the Roses Theatre and so much more. As well as the usual mix of great songs (LOVED that the song everyone would know and sing along to this year was none other than BABY SHARK); stunning costumes (with impressive changes - I particularly loved Alice's dress change when she was ship-wrecked; fantastic sets (some even glittered in a way to make it feel like it was water moving) and of course very talented cast (great audience participation) - there was magic and a UV light show!
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq-2rTPlHNT/[/embed]
Dick Whittington at the Roses Theatre is definitely a Christmas tradition to be had by the whole family. We ranged from 9-84 years and we all loved it for different reasons. Our eleven year was particularly amused by the double entendres (be rude not to with a name like Dick right!) and even our teen loved the quote from Romeo and Juliet "Ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch. Marry, ’tis enough" - when Tom Cat kills King Rat (he even discussed the clever connections).
Sponsored by one of Gloucestershire's leading independent estate agents Peter Ball & Co. (which of course was comically added into an act).

Running from Saturday 1st December 2018 until Saturday 5th January 2019
Saturday 8th December 2018 at 11am is a relaxed performance.
Prices range from £10 to £25, with discounts for concessions, families and groups. Free for carers - proof of eligibility may be required.
I was invited to Press Night of Dick Whittington at The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury all opinions are honest and my own.http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/dick-whittington-at-roses-theatre-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/dick-whittington-at-roses-theatre-300x200.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/dick-whittington-at-roses-theatre.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/05/dick-whittington-roses-theatre/feed/0255903 Simple Ways To Stay Healthy This Christmashttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/04/3-simple-ways-to-stay-healthy-this-christmas/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/04/3-simple-ways-to-stay-healthy-this-christmas/#respondTue, 04 Dec 2018 14:12:55 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25584This is an endorsed partnered post.Temptation lurks around every corner the moment December hits. The radio becomes full of Slade one hit wonders, Shakin’ Stevens is regaling you about how the snow is falling all around him, and John Lennon is telling you optimistically that war is over once again. Mince pies are springing up in every eatery, the smell of mulled wine is making you salivate, and you can almost see the pounds add to your waistline by just thinking about festive food.Christmas is traditionally a time of excess, overeating, drinking and being merry. However, this year, you don't want this attitude to blemish the fantastic efforts you have put into maintaining your health. You may have shifted your love handles, utilised your gym membership more and become generally more active. You don’t want to muffin top to reemerge. Take a look at these three simple ways to stay healthy this Christmas.

Eat Better over Christmas

[caption id="attachment_25585" align="alignnone" width="800"] Photo by Food Photographer | Jennifer Pallian on Unsplash[/caption]
Ok, so the chances are that you will have a mince pie or two, you might partake in a sherry, and you will enjoy your festive feast. However, one day out of a whole month is no bad thing. During the festive season you should be treating yourself, but not for the entire month of December. Take Christmas Day and Boxing Day and enjoy your gastronomic fayre without fear of putting on weight or guilt. All other days you should be sticking to your current way of eating, which is working wonders for your figure and your health.If you are a sucker for sweet treats, consider making your own healthier versions. Search online, and there are plenty of recipes for low GI Christmas gingerbread, vegan cheesecake or alcohol free festive cocktails. There’s nothing worse than getting to 1st January and realising that you have put on weight and your previous year of hard work has gone to waste.

Vices over Christmas

If you are a bit of a drinker or you have been known to smoke socially, now is the time to nip it in the bud. Alternatives to smoking are explored here, and instead of gulping down the prosecco, you could partake in a mocktail or two. The spiced apple drinks complete with star anise, five spice, ginger, and cinnamon are healthy and full of antioxidants.If you do enjoy a tipple or two, ration your drinking so that you don't fall into a binge drinking pattern. Opt for a Bucks Fizz with fresh orange juice rather than champagne and don’t drink quickly. Savour every sip and make your Bailey’s last. If you enter into the festive season with the mindset of only allowing Christmas Day and Boxing Day to eat, drink and be merry, the chances are that you won’t do any lasting damage to your healthy lifestyle.

Get Physical this Christmas

Rather than heading to the pub on Christmas Eve, why not venture outside for a walk. The cool, crisp winter air can be rejuvenating and set you up nicely for the festivities of the following day. If you have a gym membership, continue using it. While you won't be hot footing it to a spin class on Christmas Day, you can still head for a run on the treadmill, a Zumba class or a spot of Boxercise in December. Christmas is only a couple of days so don’t be seduced by the excesses tempting you for the whole month. There's even Parkrun being hosted on Christmas Day in some locations!Go for a bike ride, walk down to your local park and continue jogging. If you are finding your motivation waning a little, rope in a pal to help boost your morale. Discuss your Christmas plans while you challenge one another to a gentle jog around the park. Complete a 30-day abs blast together and work on your plank times. A little gentle competition never hurt anyone and can do wonders to relocate your exercise mojo.As a treat to yourself this Christmas, you might even want to take up a new sport or activity. If you've ever fancied trying a martial art, giving boxing a go or heading to the local five a side football pitch to join the ladies team, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge. This is one of the best ways to mitigate your festive food intake this Christmas.If you love nothing more than revelling in the joys of Christmas, you must take extra care not to undo all of the hard work that you have put into maintaining your health. Follow this guide, and you can ensure that you stay healthy this winter holiday.
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/food-photographer-jennifer-pallian-173720-unsplash-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/food-photographer-jennifer-pallian-173720-unsplash-300x240.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/food-photographer-jennifer-pallian-173720-unsplash.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/04/3-simple-ways-to-stay-healthy-this-christmas/feed/025584Keep Your Love Of Health and Fitness Strong!http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/03/keep-your-love-of-health-and-fitness-strong/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/03/keep-your-love-of-health-and-fitness-strong/#respondMon, 03 Dec 2018 15:00:11 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25570This is an endorsed partnered post.Something many people struggle with, is getting into the health and fitness habit and sticking to it in the long term. It’s important that you make this a lifestyle rather than just a quick fix, as so many people make this mistake. If you see health and fitness as a quick fix before you go back to an unhealthy lifestyle, you’re probably going to go to extremes and then end up even less fit and healthy than you were in the first place once you rebound.Health and fitness can be a fantastic habit and hobby, but you need to know how to keep that love strong. Let’s talk about it in more detail below!Author Bruce Mars from UnSplash

Keep Your Workout Routine Varied

Keeping your workout routine varied is pretty important. Now, this isn't to say you should do something completely different every time you go to the gym, as it can be tough to track your progress this way. However, you should include a few different types of exercise, for example, both resistance training and cardio. Including some form of yoga or pilates is a good idea too, so you’re working on your strength, cardio fitness, and flexibility.When it comes to a gym routine, you can find lots of different suitable ‘splits’ online. For example, you might train upper body one day, then lower the next. You might even like to split the body parts up, so arms, then chest, then quads, then core, and so on. It all depends on what you enjoy and what works for you. Stick to it for maybe 8-12 weeks and change things up a little when you get bored or hit a plateau.

Know When To Take A Rest

Listening to your body is crucial. Taking a rest is essential for making great progress and getting results. Rest days are just as important as the days you spend working out. Having one full rest day per week at least is essential, ideally you’ll have two. Enjoy these days, and if you still want to move consider going on a steady walk, or having a relaxing swim, yoga session or even a spa day. Not every session should be intense and sweaty, as it can wreak havoc on your body and cause stress.

Help Other People To Get Fit

How about helping other people to develop a love of fitness as a way to keep the momentum up? You could start a fitness Instagram for example; this can help you to track your own progress, follow other people in the fitness industry to stay motivated, and share your own tips/advice/things you’ve learned. Going to the gym with friends can be a nice change, and you could help them to figure out what they should be doing in the gym. If you really develop a love of fitness, you could even consider starting your own business with courses like https://origympersonaltrainercourses.co.uk/blog/how-to-become-a-kettlebell-instructor/. Many people who fall in love with fitness decide they want to work in the industry!

Treat Yourself

Don’t forget to treat yourself every now and again. How about investing in a fitness tracker so you can see more accurately how many steps you do, what your heart rate is, and how much sleep you’re getting? Or you could invest in a pair of amazing headphones to improve your listening experience. A new outfit or footwear for the gym is always a great motivator, too.

Don’t Eat Boring Foods

You’re trying to be the fittest, healthiest version of yourself, but that doesn’t mean you should eat boring foods. You can make healthy foods delicious with the right herbs and spices, and if you really want to eat pizza, then have pizza! Depriving yourself will do nothing for your mindset, and a balanced lifestyle is so important if this is going to be something that you stick to in the long term.

Track Your Progress Consistently

Tracking your progress is key to seeing how far you’ve come. Oftentimes, we can be blind to how much progress we’ve really made when we look in the mirror, and think that we haven’t made any changes at all. Taking pictures is so important and will help you to see how your body is changing. Writing down the weights you use, or the distance you run/swim will help you to see how much stronger you’re getting. Taking your measurements is key, too, as weight is never an accurate representation of how well you’re doing as it can change all the time for all kinds of reasons!

Keep Your Mind Healthy

Don’t forget to keep your mind healthy. Think of all of the positive reasons you want to stay in your routine; feeling happier day to day, living longer, better physical health, more confidence, and more. Think positive thoughts, and meditate if you can. It’ll make such a difference!
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bruce-mars-559226-unsplash-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bruce-mars-559226-unsplash-300x200.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/bruce-mars-559226-unsplash.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/03/keep-your-love-of-health-and-fitness-strong/feed/025570The Botanist Cheltenhamhttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/02/the-botanist-cheltenham/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/02/the-botanist-cheltenham/#commentsSun, 02 Dec 2018 20:06:48 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25574Monday 3rd December 2018 sees the opening of a fantastic brand-new bar and restaurant The Botanist in Cheltenham’s Brewery Quarter. The Botanist brand is operated by the leisure brand The New World Trading Company and is known across the country for its floral and plant-based theme - with bars already open in Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, York, Chester and Coventry, to name a few.
The Botanist at Cheltenham will host cocktail, ale and gin masterclasses as well as serving deli sharing boards, meaty feasts and bountiful brunches. Taking up a 6,500 square foot unit within the Brewery Quarter featuring flower-adorned walls, indoor trees and vines running up the walls. Resident botanists are poised to craft an array of extraordinary cocktail creations using all that Mother Nature has to offer including fresh pressed fruit and the finest greenhouse herbs.

VIP launch of The Botanist in Cheltenham

I went along to the VIP launch of The Botanist in Cheltenham and have to agree that not only does The Botanist live up to its reputation for having a spectacular interiors, but also for its lively atmosphere - with great live music and a certain buzz about the place.
I was absolutely blown away but the range of drinks available at The Botanist - not only for cocktails, gins, and lagers but a great variety of ciders too - which is always a winner in my book. Swedish cider company Rekorderlig have a range of drinks using botanicals as an alternative to plain old apple or pear. Their selection is made up of a rhubarb, lemon and mint drink; peach and basil; and grapefruit and rosemary.
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Of course it is all the little details that can really give a place character, and as well as the leaves and plants decorating the place we were amused to find a cock on the end of the bar (I know right you don’t expect that in a civilised bar do you - luckily it is just an ornamental bird rather than some annoying guy!) and a Chesterfield sofa in the ladies toilets. The latter of which also has a shelf above the sinks with the same plant pots used for some of the cocktails (fortunately too high to reach!). Also it is one of those really nice establishments with hand cream for after washing your hands.
My plus one and I had a fantastic evening and I look forward to returning to what is an excellent addition to The Brewery Quarter.

I was invited to a VIP launch of The Botanical Cheltenham with a plus one. All opinions are honest and my own.http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/the-botanist-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/the-botanist-300x167.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/the-botanist.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/02/the-botanist-cheltenham/feed/32557410 Ways To Save Money Whilst Studying a Degreehttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/01/10-ways-to-save-money-whilst-studying-a-degree/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/01/10-ways-to-save-money-whilst-studying-a-degree/#respondSat, 01 Dec 2018 05:30:11 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25560This is an endorsed partnered post.Higher education doesn’t have to be expensive. If you want to get a degree but are worried about the debts and the cost of resources, here are just a few ways in which you could save money.

Look for a sponsored course

Believe it or not – there are actually companies out there that will pay your entire course fees for you. This could allow you to graduate debt-free. What’s the catch? Unfortunately, there are very few companies out there that offer these sponsorships, and usually they’ll only sponsor a couple students a year, making these sponsorships highly competitive to gain access to. Our son has been told that degrees in Engineering are an area that offer sponsored courses. As part of the deal, you’ll also have to work for the company that sponsored you after you graduate, so your career options will be limited. On the flipside, you will have a job secured for when you leave and it will likely be well-paid given that the types of companies that offer these sponsorships are big and successful.
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Take an online course

There are now more online courses than ever – these allow you to study from home rather than having to attend lectures, seminars and exams at a campus. You can even take a masters online such as this masters program in education with distance learning. These courses a great option if you’ve got other commitments back home such as family to look after, allowing to study more flexibly.Online courses aren’t just convenient, but they’re also often cheaper. On top of paying cheaper study fees, you’ll also not have the costs of living on campus such as accommodation.

Consider an accelerated course

Three years is a long time for some people who may be looking to kickstart careers. What if you want to gain a degree more quickly? You can do with an accelerated course.Accelerated courses are more intensive allowing you to graduate more quickly. They’re also generally cheaper as you’re paying for two years of studies instead of three. Just be certain that you can deal with the added intensity of these courses.
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Study abroad

Want to get an education and travel? Studying abroad is a popular option that can allow you to experience living in another country whilst getting a degree. Because course fees vary all across the world, it’s possible to find cheaper options abroad. There are even some countries such as Germany in which university is free both to domestic and foreign students.You will have to factor in the cost of travelling there and back to study, plus the cost of living could be more expensive abroad. However in the case of free education, you’ll still save money overall even with these added expenses on top.

Download e-books

Some courses require you read a lot of literature. If you’re buying paperback books every time, the cost could start to add up.E-books are by and large much cheaper than physical books. In fact, they’re cheaper than most used physical books. You may want to invest in an e-reader first (although you can read e-books on laptops on desktops too). Look out for sales on e-readers throughout the year.Share books and toolsYou may be able to alternatively share books and other tools with coursemates. In fact, you could make a pact with someone on your course to each take turns to buy books and then take turns to use them. There are also sites where you can connect with fellow students and share and trade resources.
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Use your university resourcesProviding that you’re studying on campus, you may be able to take advantage of the university facilities to save money. You may be able to rent out books from the library for free – generally there will only be a few copies and these will tend to disappear fast, so try to plan ahead when borrowing these books. Most universities will also have free computers that you can use for doing work as well as free printers to save you money on paper and ink (quite often there will be a paper quota in place though, so bear this in mind).Take advantage of student discountsAn advantage of being a student is that you’ll be entitled to various discounts on everything from train travel to meals out with an NUS card to snap up these deals. Remember to ask everywhere you go if they accept NUS as not all places will have it clearly advertised. But also look out for independent stores and restaurants that may offer their own deals. Many bars in the area are likely to have cheap student drinks nights.Choose the right bank accountYou may also be able to save money by switching your bank account. Some banks offer overdraft facilities with zero interest for students (although you will have to pay if you go over your overdraft limit). For those times when you’ll inevitably run out of money, having an overdraft without interest could be very handy.Learn to live frugallyMost students have to learn to live frugally – this means making cutbacks in all areas of life. Whilst most students are eligible to a maintenance loan to cover living costs, this is likely to barely cover the rent in some instances, giving you only a pittance to live on. Getting a job or having some family support is likely to be the solution to this, but by also cutting your expenses you can further prevent yourself from running out of money.Start putting in place a weekly budget thinking about whether you need certain things or not, for example If you’ve got a car, consider whether it’s worth taking this off the road for the years in which you study (it’s unlikely you’ll be using it much and often you will not have anywhere to park it). Plan meals and use ways to avoid food waste will save money even further.
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/jeshoots-com-523925-unsplash-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/jeshoots-com-523925-unsplash-300x200.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/jeshoots-com-523925-unsplash.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/12/01/10-ways-to-save-money-whilst-studying-a-degree/feed/025560Everyone should have Someone at Christmashttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/11/30/everyone-should-have-someone-at-christmas/
http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/11/30/everyone-should-have-someone-at-christmas/#respondFri, 30 Nov 2018 05:30:31 +0000http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/?p=25535Christmas is a time for families to come together, getting excited about buying presents, putting up the Christmas tree and planning the Christmas dinner. But for thousands of young people it is a time filled with loneliness; with an estimated 18,000 young people at risk of homelessness this Christmas.

Loneliness during Christmas time for the Homeless

Christmas can be the perfect time to really stop and appreciate what you have in life - good health, a place to live, food on the table. This gratitude can help to deal with anxiety, learn to live in the present moment and be mindful of your surroundings. So you can imagine that the lack of these things can make Christmas hard for those who are homeless, with many describing it as a time of intense loneliness as others come together with their family and loved ones. Really everyone should have someone at Christmas.
Christmas is a time when homeless are in the minds of the public when we see people sleeping rough during the coldest weather. But it isn’t just about not having a roof over their heads; just having no-one around can make people feel very alone. Homeless people need support: Centrepoint research found that nine in ten homeless young people felt no one cared about them while they were sleeping rough; with their self-confidence being at rock bottom they are often anxious and depressed. On the cold dark streets they feel ignored and sofa-surfers feel unwanted, wondering if anyone would be bothered whether they live or die.
Christmas can bring up memories of Christmas past - these can be painful because they are no longer able to celebrate Christmas this way, and others have experienced difficult childhoods which weren't filled with the happy Christmas memories that many of us take for granted. It can set off anxieties. Some feel that they do not want to wake up in the mornings because they do not want to spend another day on their own.

ELIZABETH, CENTREPOINT RESIDENT

It’s so scary being on your own, it causes depression and makes you feel down and not wanting to do anything. When it comes to Christmas, it’s meant to be a happy time but it’s really not… Someone needs to just say ‘don’t worry, this is not the end’. I never got that. You lose hope, that’s what’s happening to young people. Especially at Christmas you need to give them the confidence not to give up – that there are people around you

Reasons people end up Homeless

There are a myriad of reasons why a person becomes homeless — lack of affordable housing, loss of a job, divorce, illness, substance abuse, domestic abuse to name a few. I myself was homeless at sixteen shortly before Christmas.
"I FELT LONELY AT CHRISTMAS. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE AROUND ME"
Ben will never forget the Christmas Day he ended up in hospital seriously ill. To make matters worse, a relative visited him and told him he couldn't go home. He's never been back. Ben left hospital with nowhere to go. He had no choice but to spend long dark nights on a park bench. This Christmas 18,000 young homeless people like Ben won't have a place to call home.
Christmas can be an incredibly stressful time of year for some. The additional pressure it brings can push struggling families to breaking point. Family breakdown is the biggest cause of youth homelessness in England, and around two-thirds of young people supported by Centrepoint are homeless due to family breakdown. Financial pressures at Christmas can also be really difficult for young people to manage. Many struggle to stay on top of bills and rent payments, placing their ability to manage a tenancy at risk.

"I'm in this situation due to domestic violence against me from my parents... I guess the building up to it happened over Christmas time, then straight after Christmas it all happened and my first experience of homelessness was in January... I did sleep rough, in my garden, for four or five nights," says one young person.

"I remember struggling through Christmas with money. You have to try and pay for it, but at that time of year, you might get ill, you don't get paid, you start struggling. You can't pay your bills. Suddenly, you're in arrears," says another young person who took part in our research.

The Damage Homelessness Can Do

It has been reported that homeless people feel that people look down on them, saying words that harm them. That assumptions are made about why they are there and what they are doing. Or they often feel ashamed or invisible to others, leading to them feeling like they don’t deserve to be helped. Crucially, these experiences make it even harder for people to rebuild their lives: making it harder to seek help, and secure or maintain a job. In the worst cases, people had even considered or attempted suicide.
People have been known to form unwanted sexual relationships just to keep a roof over their heads, many feel they are treated differently since becoming homeless - especially that if they are to blame for their situation. A large majority find that relationships with family and friends deteriorate since becoming homeless and rough sleepers are reported as being 17 times more likely than the general public to face a risk of physical violence.

How we all can help the homeless young people to feel less alone at Christmas

The best way we can help the homeless this (and every) Christmas is to educate ourselves. That can be discovering why people have become homeless and ways both locally and nationally they can be helped. The smallest gesture such as a simple smile can make the world of difference. Homeless people can be very lonely so if you can sit and talk with them. Provide for them (a hot, drink, a meal, a blanket, coat, gloves, hat, scarf, clothes, toys, etc) either directly or via charity or donate a coffee schemes. There are local food banks collecting and domestic violence charities often collect from supermarkets to name just a couple of ways to donate if you do not feel comfortable approaching someone who is homeless. If you can help someone get home for Christmas or provide a safe bed for a young person.

Help for the Homeless from Centrepoint

Again not everyone feels comfortable approaching the homeless but last year, over 2,400 young people were helped by Centrepoint over Christmas who believe that everyone should have someone at Christmas. The support has helped them forget the difficult things they'd experienced in the past.

"People were more focused on the actual day than their past and what happened to them before. They were more focused on the people around and the jokes we were having, rather than thinking about what we didn't have before. It was a good day, I felt like most of us got closer together," recalls Luke, a young person who spend Christmas with Centrepoint last year.

Centrepoint need your help to support more young people - not just physically, but mentally. Simply having a Christmas dinner together and joining in group activities can mean the world to homeless young people. But not just for Christmas but for their futures. Offering counselling to overcome the isolation and traumas of their past, to live independently and learn practicalities like organising finances and paying bills.
If you believe everyone should have someone at Christmas, please donate. They couldn't do what we do without your support.

£50 COULD HELP PROVIDE COUNSELLING - From family breakdown to rough sleeping, homelessness is tough on mental health – especially at Christmas. Your donation could mean a young person has access to mental health support.

£144 COULD HELP SPONSOR A ROOM - Your gift will not only help provide a warm, safe room for up to a year, but it will also go towards providing vital support such as functional skills workshops, and access to our sport engagement programmes.

Give the Gift of Companionship this Christmas - Donate now at the Centrepoint Christmas appeals page

Photos from Unsplash * Stats from Centrepoint's research "Out of reach: young people's experience of rough sleeping and sofa surfing", 2015.t. We want to end youth homelessness in the UK.
This is a collaborative post.http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/zac-durant-1141750-unsplash-150x150.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/zac-durant-1141750-unsplash-300x200.jpghttp://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/zac-durant-1141750-unsplash.jpg]]>http://pinkoddy.co.uk/blog/2018/11/30/everyone-should-have-someone-at-christmas/feed/025535